Method of coating cores



April 17,1926. 1,666,214

J. s. LITTLE METHOD 0F GOATING CoREs Filed April 17. 1926 5` Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 192s. l 1,666,214 J.v s. LITTLE 9 B N L @JMW /wyv April 17, 192,8. 1.666.214

J. S. LITTLE METHOD OF coATING coREs Patented Apr. 17, 1928.l

UNITED stares ears JOHN SHIRLEY LITTLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

METHOD or ooA'rrNG comas.

Application filed A'pril 17, 1926. Serial N0. 102,714.

This invention relates to a methodvof coating cores, and more particularly to a method of coating a core in strand form with pulpo'us material.

The object -of the invention is to facilitate i the application of pulpous material to a core in strand form and the formation of the pulpousmaterial thereon to constitute a substantially uniform and uninterrupted coating therefor.

Brieiy stated, the improved method consists in bringing the core into intimate relation with a liquid containing pulp and a comparatively small quantity of soap in such manner that pulp is applied to the core and caused to cling thereto. Excess moisture is then removed from the pulpous material'A applied to the core and the pulpous material is formed into a substantially uniform and 0 uninterrupted coating for the core which is `subsequently dried by being subjected to ciris capable of other applications and should' be limitedonly in so far as deiined in the appended claims. Where the method is used or insu'ating electricalconductors, manila, wood, r. Igs, cotton, es'parto, jute, hemp and asbestos, pulp may be employed as the coating material, but other materials than those specified may be used without departing from' the spirit and scope of the invention which contemplates in its broadest aspect the coating of a core in strandy formv with pulpous material in the presence of soap.

The term core in strand form as used in the specification and appended claims refers to a core having a conliguration resembling a fiber, hair, filament, string, small core or thev like, or in the nature of a rope consisting of fibers, yarns and wire twisted together. It is believed that the improved method will be clearly understood from the following description of an apparatus by which the method may be practiced and the accompanying drawings, in which:` Figs. 1 andv2 are complementary parts of a plan elevation Otan apparatus by which the improved method may be practiced;

Figs. 3 and 4 are complementary parts of a longitudinal section through the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to inclusive, this portion of the apparatus being adapted to subject a, plurality ofcores in strand form to a liquid containing pulp and a comparatively small quantity of soap;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken. on line 7--7 of Fig. 6, and

Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive are enlarged transverse sections which progressively illustrate the manner in which the apparatus shown in Figs. 1- to 7, inclusive, coat a core with pulpous material.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings jis adapted to coat a plurality of cores in plies the pulpous material to the cores and removes the excess moisture therefrom is termedthe wet end of the apparatus and is designated in the-drawings by the reference characterl.' The wet end comprises a drum 16 which is partly submerged in a liquid containing pulp held in a tank 17. As shown" in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, the drum 16 comprises a plurality of spiders 18 rigidly secured to a shaft 19 which is rotatably journaled in a plurality of bearings 20 mounted upon hollow side Walls 32 of the tank 17. A plurality of bars 22 secured to the spider 1,8 form a support for a helical member 23 which is formed ofv a rod wound around the bats. The helical member 23 supports a coarsemesh screen 24 which in turn supports a tine mesh screen 25, the ne mesh screen 25-being covered`by a plurality of rings or dams 26 of some waterproof material, such as okonite. The bars 22, the helical member 23, the screens 24 and 25, and the dams 26 together form a cylindrical wall for the drum 16, the dams 26 being spaced from each other to provide a plurality of annular passages 27 through which liquid may drum 16.

Each end of the drum 16 is provided with an annular member 30 disposed concentrically YWith respect to the axis of the shaft 19. T he outer end of each annular member is disposed in close proximity with an annular flange 31 formed in cach side wall 32 of the tank 17. Each side wall 32 has a chamber 33 which communicates with the in- I terior of the drum 16 through an aperturev 34 l forme annular flange 31 and the adjacent annular member 30. Formed in the bottom of the tank 17 between thcchambers 33 is a passage 35 through ,which the liquid may flow from the left hand chamber 33 to the right hand chamber 33 and thence through a pipe 38 communicating with the right hand chamber 33. It is obvious that if liquid contain- -ing pulp is introduced into the tank 17 the free liquid will How through the annular passages 2,7 into the drum 16 and then into the chambers 33 from which it may be -drawn by way of the pipe 38.

The-liquid containing pulp is supplied t as it passes through the pipe 48 into the tank 17. The receptacle 40 may be supported by a plurality'of brackets 43 secured to a Wall 49 of the tank 17 The 4pipe 48 discharges into a space or compartment formed `at one end of the tank 17 by the Wall 49 and a second wall 50 suitably spaced therefrom.

The liquid containing .pulp is preferably introduced into the tank 17 under pressure by means (not shown) which insures a forced circulation of the pulpous material I' through the lapparatus. A plurality of baffle plates 51 disposed between the walls v49 and 50 insure that the pulpous material vand the sqap will be thorouglilyvmixed before enter- .ing the tank proper by passing over the wall 50 which is of lesser -height than the wall 49.

The means (not shown) for maintaining a circulation between the mixing vat (not shown) and the tank 17 may be adjusted to keepthe pulp mixture at a predetermined level inthe tank.' The liquid in the drum 16 is maintained at 'a lower level than that of the pulp mixture in the tank. Should the level' of the liquid within the drum 16 tend flow from the tank 17 into the' in the side Wall, and through the to rise above a predetermined point, the excess liquid will low over a plurality of verticallyv disposed gates 58 provided in the chambers The gates 58 are slidably mounted in the chambers 33 and may be se` cured in adjusted positions by means of wing nuts 60v threaded upon bolts-61 projecting from the gates through slots 62 formed in the side walls 32 of the tank. Liquid lowing over the gates 58 Vis, discharged from the apparatus through a plurality of drain pipes 64.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the cores which are subjected'to the liquid containing pulp arewithdrawn from a plurality of supply reels 65 mounted upon a shaft 66 which is mounted in a plurality of brackets 67. The cores, which are indicated by the reference character 69, are trained over a plurality of sheaves carried by a shaft 71 whichvis mounted in the side walls 32 of the tank 17. From the sheaves 7 0 the cores 69 are trained around the annular foraminous passages 27 of the dr-um 16, each core 69 being centrally disposed' in one of the passages. The drum is rotated by the cores as they are drawn through the apparatus, a ribbon of moist pulpous material being formed in each passage 27A and attached to each core as it passes around the drum. The construction is such that a layer of pulp is strained onto the fine mesh 25 before the cores are brought into contact therewith. Then, after the cores contact the initial layers of pulp on the screen and the drum continues to revolve in the tank, an vadditional amount of pulp is deposited on each core and the screen. The pulpous material deposited upon the cores and the screen 25 adheres to the cores in the form of ribbons 7 3 as illustrated in4 Fig. 7. A Woven belt 7 5 aids in freeing the pulp'. ribbons from thescreen 25 when the cores leave the drum 16, the belt being held into Contact with the drum by a felt covered roller 76 rotatably mounted in a frame 77. The felt covered roller 76 coacts llll) with the belt 75 and the drum 16 to squeeze the excess liquid from the pulpous material adhering to the core, the core and its ribbon of pulpous material being advanced with the belt 75 and between it and a similar belt 79.

' The presence of soap in the liquid containing'pulp improves and facilitates the formation of the pulpous ribbons lon the cores. Furthermore, it has been found in the practice of this inventionthat the addition of a small amount of soap to the pulpous material facilitates freeing the pulpous ribbons from the drum 16 by the belt 75.

Thebelt 75 is trained over a plurality of.

-rubber covered rollers 8O and 81 and over a plurality of rolls 83, the rollers 80 and 81 and the r'olls'83 being rotatably journaled in the frame 77. Means (not shown) is'pro-l vided for. driving theroller 80 and it drives 75 by means of a plurality of rubber covered rollers 85 and 86. The rubber covered rollers 81- and 86 coact with each other and with the belts 75 and 79 to squeeze excess moisture from the ribbons of pulpous material adhering to the cores. The rollers 80 and 85 also function in this manner. The belts 75 and 79 are sulticiently porous to allow the liquid to escape therethrough. This construction is particularly advantageous in that the belts 75- and 79 prevent the cores from whipping as they travel from the squeezing rollers 8l and 86 to the squeezing rollers St) and 85, it being obvious that whipping of the cores would be accompanied by displacement of t-he ribbons of pulpous material relative to the cores. The belt 75 supports the cores and the pulpous ribbons as they are advanced from one pairof squeezing rollers to the other in such manner that thev pulp ribbons will not dangle from the coresand lose the form which is imparted .to them by the felt roller 76 and the drum 16. Fig. t) illustrates the form which is imparted to each ribbon of the pulpous material by the felt covered roller 7 6 and the drum 16. The belts 75` and 79 also facilitate the task of coating a plurality of cores simultaneously as the belts hold the cores to parallel paths as they are advanced from the squeezing 'ing for the core.

rollers 81 and 86 to the squeezing rollers 8() and t85. This prevents the ribbons of pulp from becoming entangled with each other. The ribbons of pulpous material are suiiciently dry, when they leave the Wet end 15, that the cores alone Will support them.

A plurality of forming mechanisms 90 are adapted to receive the cores 69 With the rib- Ybons of pulpous material when they are discharged from the Wet end l5, a plurality of sheaves 95 being provided for guiding the cores to thev forming mechanisms. The forming mechanisms 90 may be of the type shown and described in the copending application of H. \V.`Jespersen, Serial No. 713,704,6166. May 16,1924, and are rotatably mounted in a hollow frame 91, means indicated at 92 being provided for rotating the forming mechanisms. The forming mechanisms 90 are adapted to Wrap each pulpous ribbon around itself and around the core associated there-With to form a uniform coat- The manner in which a 'pulpous ribbon is Wrapped around itself and around a core is illustrated in Fig. 10, the fully formed coating being shown in Fig. 11.

The lpresence of soap in the liquid containing pulp materially minimizes any tendency of the forming mechanisms to strip the pulpous ribbon from the core, thereby insuring a substantially uniform and uninterrupted vcoating throughout the length of the core.

Furthermore, it has been found in the practi/ce of this invention that byl the addition of a comparativelysmall amount' of soap to the liquid containing pulp, the tendency of small portions of the pulpous ribbon to become attaehed to the polishing blades of the forming mechai'iisms is'minimized, thus decreasing the amount of attention the forming mechanisms require.

After'leaving the forming mechanisms the coated cores are guided by a. plurality of sheaves 96 into ahousing or compartment 10Q wherein they are. dried, a 4plurality of sheaves 101 being provided to guide them through a' plurality of apertures 10:2 .formed in one of the walls of the compartment.

The coated cores are trained over a plurality l of sheaves 103 mounted in the compartn'ient 104) and are discharged from the conipartvment through a plurality of apertures 105 formed in another wall thereof. Means indicated at 10G is provided for subjecting the4 pulpous coatings on the cores to air of predetermined relative humidity and predetermined temperature. This means is described in detail in my Patent No. 1,615,893, dated January 25, 1927, and'since it forms no part of this invention no particular description thereof is given in this disclosure. After the coated cores pass from the compartment 100 they are guided by a plurality of sheaves 108 to a plurality of take-up spools 10S) which are driven by any suitable means (not shown).

lVlrat is claimed is:

1. A method of coating a core in strand form consisting in subjecting the core to a liquid containing pulp in the presence'of soap in such manner that pulp is applied thereto, and then forming the pulp around the core to constitute a coating conforming with the coreand retained on the core by a felt-ing of the pulp` fibers.

2. A method of coating a core in strand form consisting in applying pulp to the core in the presence of soap in such manner that a ribbon of pulp is attached to the core, and subsequently'forming the pulpous ribbon on the core to constitute a coating retained on the core by a feltingof the pulp fibers.

3.. A method of coating a core in strand form consisting in subjecting the core to a liquid containing pulp in the presence of soap in such manner that pulptis applied thereto, squeezing the pulp on the core to remove excess moisture therefrom and form it into a ribbon, and then Wrapping the pulpous ribbon around itself and around the core to constitute a coating therefor.

4. A method of coating a core in strand form consisting in attaching a ribbon of wet pulp in the presence of soap to the core, and then forming the pulpous ribbon on .the core to constitute a coating encircling the core and attached Athereto by an ntermingling of the pulp fibers.

`5. A method ofcoating a core in Astrand form which consists in subjecting the core to a solution of vpuilpou's material including a liquid soap in- Such manner that a ribbon of wet pulp is caused to cling to the core, squeezing said pulpous ribbon to remove eX- cess moisture therefrom, and then forming said ribbon to constitute a coating having a curved outer surface and attached thereto by a felting of the pulp fibers. 1

6. The method of coating a core in Strand form consisting in applying pulpous material in the presence of soapto the core, and then forming the pulpous material on the core to constitute a coating therefor.

7. A'method ofcoating a core 'in strand form-consisting in applying pulpous material in the presence of vsoap to the core, and then forming the p ulpous material on the core to constitute'a coating having a curved outer surface.` I 1 8. A methodof coating a core in strand form consisting in applying a core to a li 9.'A method of coating a core in strand. l

form consisting in subjecting'the core to a liquid containing pulp in the presence of soapv in such manner that pulp is applied thereto,form ing the pulp, around the core to constitute acoating'conforming With-the core and retained thereon by a felting of the ed core to air of predetermined relative humidity and temperature.

10. A method of coating a core in strand form consisting in subjecting the core toA a pulp fibers, and then subjecting the coatliquid containing pulp in the presence of soap in suchmanner that a ribbon of Wet pulp is attached to the core,vsqueezing said pulpous'ribbon to remove excess moisture therefrom, forming the ribbon on the 'core to constitute a coating conforming to the" shape of the core and `attached thereto by a felting of thepulp fibers, and then drying the coated core in air of predetermined relativehumidity and temperature.v

11. A method of coatingja core in strand form', which consistsl of addingl a small quantity of soap to a liquid containing. pulp, applying the slightly soaped pulp to the core, and forming the pulp around the core to constitute a uniform coating. l

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26thlday of March, A. D. 1926. v

JOHN SHIRLEY LITTLE. 

